If 4.Nh3 d5 doesn't work (though I still think black has several interesting ideas to prove compensation in this line), maybe black should consider playing a la Leko with 4...Nc6. With the awkward placement of white's pieces, I have feeling black has sufficient compensation for the pawn somehow...

But then again 5.e3 isn't forced, so probably 5.Bg5 is more cause for concern. I don't see a good answer to this.

So maybe black should try 4...d5 intending

5.g4 Qh4+ 6.Nf2 Bc5 7.e3 Nf45.Bg5 f6 (OK I think this is the best but I don't think I like it for black) 6.exf6 Nxf6 (6...Bxh3 fails to fxg7 and 6...exf6 fails to Qd4 followed by Qh4) 7.Nf2 Bc5 and black may have enough compensation, but I have my doubts.

After 4...d6 5.g4 is possible, when after 5...g6 6.Bg5 seems to cross up Black's plans. White can't take the knight at once because of Bxh3, Bxh3, Qh4+, regaining the piece, but he is threatening Nf2 when the knight is lost.

After 1.d4 Nf6 2.f3 e5 3.dxe5 Nh5 I think that 4.Nh3 may be White's best. 4...Qh4+ 5.Nf2 Bc5 6.e3 doesn't seem to lead anywhere for Black, although it does look quite dangerous, and there may be something there.

I also think 4...d6 after g3 looks good for Black. He seems to have superb compensation for the pawn.

In the line1.d4 Nf6 2.f3 e5 3.dxe5 Nh5 4.g3 (If my earlier analysis is correct, then it may be best to prevent Qh4+ with 4.g3.)

I think 4...d6 is best (instead of my earlier suggestion of 4...Bc5) since it takes immediate action against white's center.

For example, after

4.g3 Bc5 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Ne4 Bb6 7.f4white seems to be consolidating and may have the advantage. For example, the direct attempt to break with 7...h6 is met by 8.e3 attacking the now awkwardly placed knight on h5.

However, I think 4...d6 is very convincing:

4.g3 d6 5.exd6 Bxd6 is very dangerous for white with the threat Nxg3 looming: 6.Kf2?? Bxg3+6.f4 Bg4 is very loose6.e3 is probably best, but 6...0-0 7.Bg2 Qe7 8.Ne2 Rd8 would make me very nervous.

If 5.e4 (which I think is better) then 5...dxe5 6.Qxd8 Kxd8 is fine for black (and probably best), though black may have more with 5...Nd7!?:

Oh, I noticed that in the line 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3(which actually has some theoretical importance),the related 3...e5 has been played a few times with an excellent score. (My search was on chessbase.com.)Peter Leko beat Kramnik with this line!

Who named this the "Paleface" and why? It sounds like someone joked about having a "pale face" after seeing their opponent play 2.f3. ("Oh no! He's gonna play the Blackmar-Diemer!")

After 1.d4 Nf6 2.f3 d5 probably the best white can hope for is an inferior line of the Veresov. OK so 2...d5 is obviously good for black. When I see a move like 2.f3, I start to look for absurd moves and see if they are playable. So let the sillyness begin!

I)2...c52.f3 c5 3.d5 e6 4.c4?!White now thinks he's going to play a Half-Samisch Benoni. A transpositional victory for the "Paleface"?

[4.Nc3 is probably better but 4...exd5 5.Nxd5 Nxd5 6.Qxd5 d6 looks like an improved anti-Benoni line for black.

Okay, that's long (and probably wrong), but one thing came up after another and I couldn't resist! I would like to see an attempt at refutation (which may be easy ). The same goes for the analysis of my Benoni 7.f4 Qe7!? post.

2...c5 is possible, as is 2...g6 which may not be as good as 2...d5! but then again if White is angling for a BDG then 2...d5 is what he/she wants. Incidentally, I thought 2. Nc3 d5 3. e4 was the preferred BDG move-order against 1...Nf6

I'm making the assumption that the game will stay away from BDG territory and in independent lines...Any thoughts on this move? Perhaps it is decent for a little surprise value? I know it gains decent positions against KID players who refuse to meet it with 2. ... d5!